How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Even though he couldn’t give the answer they wanted, he had at least extended a favor.

However, the Duke’s children didn’t come one at a time. When someone who looked exactly like the eldest came, Johan initially thought the eldest had changed clothes and returned.

“Have you been well, Sir Johan?”

‘𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯.’

The second child also praised Johan in a similar manner. Except for a more arrogant and aristocratic tone, it was similar to the eldest’s. Johan internally sighed.

“By any chance, how did you. . .”

“I knocked him down and then strangled him to death.”

“. . .I was short-sighted.”

Anita, like changing masks, altered her friendly demeanor. It was the face of a proudly burning aristocrat.

“I will keep your secret.”

“I would appreciate that.”

Anita left.

After encountering the Duke’s children one after another just trying to go to the bathroom, Johan was getting irritated. But before he could enter, the third appeared.

‘𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵?’

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐩-

The third one approached in a more unique way, trying to put a bracelet and necklace around Johan’s neck. Johan stopped the hand and said,

“I knocked down the werewolf and then strangled him to death.”

“. . .I-I’m sorry.”

Thinking that Duke had already spoken, the third one was so flustered that his face turned pale. Johan said, looking him in the eye,

“Don’t worry. I will keep your secret.”

“. . .Thank you! I will definitely repay you.”

“Haha. I’m looking forward to it.”

After the third one left, when the servant approached again, Johan glared at him and said,

“If someone blocks my way again, I’ll break your neck.”

“I-I’m sorry!”

The servant exclaimed in fear. Seeing this, Johan softened his heart.

“. . .Well, how could I refuse the request of the Brduhe bloodline. I understand.”

“Thank you for understanding! But, um. . .”

“?”

“One more person asked. . .”

Johan counted on his fingers. Three had appeared, so there was one more, the youngest. Johan glared at the servant. He was evenly entertaining them in order.

“. . .Please, please spare me!”

“I won’t kill you, just show me the way.”

He encountered the youngest child on the way back. It was evident that they were the youngest. They were short and slender. Their young age made it difficult to discern their gender by voice.

Johan was more lenient on the way back.

“Hello, Gong. This is such a coincidence. . .”

“It’s not a coincidence. I’ve been waiting since before Elso-gong spoke to you.”

“Is that so? But why?”

“I didn’t want to bother you as you seemed to be going somewhere.”

‘𝘖𝘩.’

Johan was slightly impressed. To think such a young-looking person would have such thoughts.

Of course, he was just going to the bathroom. . .

“Are you curious about how I caught the werewolf?”

“. . .Yes.”

“I knocked him down and then strangled him to death.”

“Is that true?”

“Why would I lie?”

“. .Understood.”

The youngest withdrew with that.

Johan returned to where Achladda was waiting, along with the servant.

Achladda asked curiously,

“Did you eat up the servant or something? Why did it take you so long?”

“Something even stranger happened.”

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Regardless of what had happened, the banquet was peaceful.

The Duke’s children politely greeted the knights and exchanged compliments with each other.

“Wow. They look so friendly, it’s almost annoying.”

“. . .Sir Knight. I always enjoy your stories, but please be careful in such gatherings!”

Achladda whispered in alarm upon hearing Johan’s words. Even as a favored child of the tribe loved by the Duke, challenging authority in Duke’s presence could cost him his head.

“Don’t worry. I spoke quietly enough not to be heard. Anyway, try this.”

“Isn’t this the same meat we were served in the town?”

“Oh. To say that, you still have a long way to go. It’s the same meat, but the secret is in the sauce. Hmm. . . meat grease mixed with white wine and a bit of almond milk?”

‘𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘪𝘳 𝘒𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯.’

Achladda thought to himself.

The image of strangling the Werewolf King after a fierce beating was still vivid in his mind. It was like a warrior from a myth had come to life.

But here he was, enjoying the taste of food like some rich, corpulent merchant. . .

“Won’t you have some?”

“No, thank you. Indulging in delicacies makes the body heavy.”

“Then I’ll enjoy it myself.”

“. . . . . .”

Duke’s cooks presented large cuts of pork and beef, followed by game like pheasants, geese, and more common meats like lamb and veal.

“Sir Knight. Thank you!”

Other knights expressed their gratitude to Johan.

The warriors present were knights who had joined the werewolf hunt. Originally, only Johan and Achladda would have attended, but Johan had requested the Duke to invite others.

“Are you enjoying the drink?”

“Yes! I’d like to take one of these silver cups home.”

“If you want your wrist cut off, that’s fine.”

“Haha! I’m not that drunk. But inviting us like this, Sir Knight’s catch must have been the most impressive, right?”

The tribal warriors were brash and lacked manners. Unlike Johan and Achladda, they were unrestrained, eating heartily and shouting loudly.

Despite this, the Duke did not restrain them but instead asked the musicians to play louder, creating a lively and informal atmosphere.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭.’

In such a cheerful atmosphere, it was easier to ask questions. After ordering a slave to pour more wine, the Duke spoke.

“I was truly impressed by this hunt.”

“It wasn’t just my effort.”

“?”

“???”

Eastern warriors, drunk and loud, looked up at Johan with curious eyes. The Duke was puzzled by their gaze.

Why are they looking at me like that?

Regardless, Johan brazenly continued.

“Without the combined strength of all the warriors. . .”

“Pfft. . . Hahah.”

“Hey. Don’t laugh. Sir Knight is speaking.”

“. . .we wouldn’t have been able to catch it.”

The drunken warriors now blushed, trying to hold back their laughter.

Combine strength? What nonsense! After he single-handedly beat it down and strangled it. . .

Even the Duke couldn’t contain his curiosity at this point.

What in the world happened?

“Hunter does not share his secrets even with his lord, unfortunately. It’s a pity I couldn’t ask.”

Duke subtly hinted in his speech. He meant to ask indirectly, as it wouldn’t suit his dignity to inquire directly. Of course, Johan wasn’t oblivious enough to respond with ‘𝘠𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥.’

“No, that’s not right. The warriors here, before being hunters, are knights of the Duke, are they not? Answering the lord’s question is also a matter of knightly honor.”

“Duke, if I may, could I offer my opinion?”

The Duke’s eldest opened the conversation. The warriors looked on with great interest.

Could Duke’s eldest really guess this correctly?

‘𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥.’

The Duke read determination in his children’s expressions. It was an opportune moment to test them. The Duke nodded his head.

“Speak your mind.”